Covering piece with a swing-out screen

ABSTRACT

A trim panel ( 1 ) of a vehicle interior, in particular an instrument panel or central console, has a viewing screen ( 6 ) which can be swung up from a non-functional position into a functional position. According to the invention, the trim panel ( 1 ) is provided with at least one guide element ( 3 ), ( 12 ), ( 13 ) which is coupled, on the one hand, to the trim panel ( 1 ) and, on the other hand, to the viewing screen ( 6 ) and the axes of rotation of which run essentially parallel to one another. It is preferable for two guide elements ( 12 ), ( 13 ) to be provided which are coupled in each case to the trim panel ( 1 ), on the one hand, and to the viewing screen ( 6 ), on the other hand, and the axes of rotation of which run parallel to one another.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims priority International Application No.PCT/EP02/13648 having an International Filing Date of Dec. 3, 2002, thefull disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a trim panel of a vehicle interior, inparticular instrument panel or central console, having a viewing screenwhich can be swung up from a non-functional position into a functionalposition.

A trim panel of the generic type is disclosed in the laid-openspecification DE 199 38 690 A1. The instrument panel described there isprovided with a receiving compartment for a monitor which can betransferred by means of a folding and displacement mechanism from anon-functional position within the receiving compartment into afunctional position, in which the monitor can be seen from the vehicleinterior. The folding and displacement mechanism is equipped withslotted-guide mechanisms which are spaced apart from one another and inwhich the viewing screen, after a cover is opened, slides from anessentially horizontal position into the approximately verticalfunctional position.

This design is disadvantageous in one respect, since the cover isdesigned as a separate component and therefore increases the outlay onconstruction. In particular, a parallel arrangement of a plurality ofslotted-guide mechanisms has a tendency to jam if the guide railsdeviate even slightly in position or if the monitor tilts even slightly.

The laid-open specification DE 197 00 515 A1 discloses a dashboard ontowhich an output unit for information which can be displayed visually canbe placed. The output unit, which rests flat on the dashboard, is, in amanner similar to a conventional laptop, provided with a monitor whichcan be pivoted about a horizontal axis of rotation (Y-axis of thevehicle) running transversely with respect to the direction of travel.In this case, the output unit is not integrated in the dashboard, butrather constitutes a not very elegant additional component which iscomplicated to secure.

The publication DE 196 09 408 A1 furthermore describes a dashboardhaving a display zone, for example a projection surface, which isinstalled in a fixed position in the dashboard. Deformation ofmembrane-like shutters, which butt against each other in the region ofthe display zone, enable the latter either to be completely concealed ormade visible from the driving seat. For this purpose, the ends of theshutters are connected via rod-like connecting elements to a rockerwhose rotation enables the shutters to be adjusted. However, this designis suitable only for comparatively small-format display zones orpresupposes the presence of extensive areas in the dashboard in whichthe shutters can be arranged. Use in trim panels of less extent in termsof area, for example central consoles, is therefore virtuallyimpossible.

SUMMARY

The invention is based on the object of providing a trim panel fromwhich a monitor can be swung up with low actuating forces and littleoutlay on construction and which can furthermore be designed to becompact and elegant.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a generic trimpanel having at least one guide element which is coupled, on the onehand, to the trim panel and, on the other hand, to the viewing screenand the axis of rotation of which run essentially parallel to oneanother.

This design enables the viewing screen to be pivoted from the functionalposition, by means of a semi-rotation, to behind the guide elementprotruding from the trim panel and to be shifted together with thelatter toward the trim panel. The compact unit produced in this mannercan be integrated into the contour of the trim and, furthermore, therotary joints do not have a tendency to inadvertently jam.

According to one variant of the invention, the guide element in thefunctional position of the viewing screen can be brought into the sameposition resting on the trim panel as in the non-functional position ofthe viewing screen, with the result that it can be locked on the trimpanel in both positions. Only the viewing-screen-side joint of the guideelement therefore has to be provided with an additional fixing device,for example a friction coupling.

By contrast, according to another advantageous design, the guide elementin the functional position of the viewing screen can be fixed in aposition deviating from the non-functional position. In this case,although both the trim-panel-side and viewing-screen-side joints of theguide element have to be provided with fixing devices, the position ofthe viewing screen can be adapted more flexibly to the requirements ofthe vehicle occupants.

According to one variant of the invention which is to be particularlypreferred, at least two guide elements are provided which are coupled ineach case to the trim panel, on the one hand, and to the viewing screen,on the other hand, and the axes of rotation of which run parallel to oneanother. The viewing screen is therefore guided in its pivoting movementby a four-bar frame and is held particularly securely in its functionalposition. In this case, according to one advantageous design, thedistance between the trim-panel-side axis of rotation of the first guideelement and the viewing-screen-side axis of rotation of the second guideelement and between the trim-panel-side axis of rotation of the secondguide element and the viewing-screen-side axis of rotation of the firstguide element increases when the viewing screen is swung up from thenon-functional position into the functional position.

A kinematic configuration is particularly to be preferred, in which aguide element, when the viewing screen is shifted from thenon-functional position into the functional position, executes arotational movement directed exclusively in one direction of rotation. Amanual or mechanical rotary drive which can be of simple design can acton this guide element and, for the transfer into the functionalposition, rotates in the one direction, and, in contrast, for thetransfer into the non-functional position, rotates in the otherdirection and in the process forceably pivots the viewing screen intothe desired position. By contrast, the other guide element can becoupled in such a manner that it changes its direction of rotation whenthe viewing screen is swung out.

In all of the embodiments, it is advantageous if one guide elemententirely or partially engages around the viewing screen from the outsidein the non-functional position. This firstly protects the viewing screenfrom mechanical damage and secondly enables the relevant guide elementto be of rounded and padded design in order to increase the vehicleoccupants' safety. For this purpose, the guide element engaging aroundthe viewing screen on the outside is preferably of sheet-like design andessentially conceals the rear side of said viewing screen in thenon-functional position, the viewing screen in the non-functionalposition advantageously being arranged in a recess of the trim panel. Inthis case, the other guide element can take up a position between theviewing screen and the trim panel.

In principle, the axes of rotation of the guide elements may run in anydesired direction as long as they are orientated parallel to oneanother. If, however, the trim panel is arranged in the interior of amotor vehicle, an essentially horizontal orientation is advantageous forvisual and functional reasons and also with regard to the availableconstructional space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures schematically illustrate different variants of the inventionby way of example.

FIG. 1 shows a first trim panel according to the invention in variousphases of the movement from the non-functional position into thefunctional position of the viewing screen, in a perspective view,

FIG. 2 shows the joint mechanism of another trim panel in correspondingphases, in a side view,

FIG. 3 shows a corresponding view of a further variant according to theinvention,

FIG. 4 shows a trim panel with a joint mechanism according to FIG. 3 inthe functional position of the viewing screen, in a perspectiveillustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The trim panel 1 which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and is designed as acentral console of a passenger vehicle is equipped on its vertical endsurface 2, which faces the vehicle rear, with a sheet-like guide element3 which is connected at its lower edge 4 to the trim panel 1 via a firstjoint 5 arranged approximately centrally in the end surface 2. A viewingscreen 6 is connected pivotably on an edge side by means of a furtherjoint 8, which is situated on the upper edge 7 of the guide element 3,to the guide element 3 and therefore indirectly also to the trim panel1.

The axes of rotation of the joints 5, 8 run spaced apart from oneanother and parallel in the horizontal direction transversely withrespect to the direction of travel, i.e. in the direction of the vehicleaxis which is usually designated as the Y-axis.

In the non-functional position, the viewing screen 6, as can be seenfrom FIG. 1 a, is embedded between the guide element 3 and the trimpanel 1 in a recess 9 let into the latter. The display 10 of the viewingscreen 6, which is completely concealed on the rear side by the guideelement 3, points in the direction of travel and cannot be seen by thevehicle occupants. In this case, the trim panel 1, those side surfaces11 of the viewing screen which end flush with the trim panel 1 and theguide element 3 form a compact constructional unit.

During the transfer of the viewing screen into the functional position,first of all the guide element 3 is folded rearward (FIG. 1 b) about thejoint 5 arranged on the trim panel 1 until the viewing screen 6 can bepivoted upward through an angle of approximately 180° in the upper joint8 into an upright position which can be seen by the rear vehicleoccupants (FIG. 1 c). The guide element can subsequently be folded backin the direction of the trim panel 1 where it can be locked, in whichcase the viewing screen 6 takes up its functional position, which can beadapted in the joint 8 by means of rotation (FIG. 1 d). As analternative, the guide element, as illustrated in FIG. 1 e, can be heldin a position protruding from the trim panel 1 by the lower joint 5being fixed. The fixing is preferably of flexible design both in theupper joint 8 and in the lower joint 5, for example by means of frictioncouplings integrated in the joints 5, 8.

That region of the end surface 2 of the trim panel 1 which is situatedbelow the guide part 3 can be used in an ergonomically favorable mannerfor the arrangement of control and functional elements. In the exemplaryembodiment, a flap 28 is provided for this purpose, the flap beingmounted in the lower region of the trim panel 1 in a manner such that itcan rotate about the Y-axis and, when it is pivoted forward, a DVDplayer 29 becoming accessible.

FIG. 2 shows the joint mechanism of another trim panel 1 according tothe invention, in which the viewing screen 6 is held in an articulatedmanner by two guide elements 12, 13. The first guide element 12, whichis the outer one in the non-functional position (FIG. 2 a) and is angledin side view, is connected to the trim panel 1 by means of a joint 15,which is situated on its upper, horizontal limb 14, and is connected bymeans of its vertically downwardly protruding limb 16 via a joint 17 tothe viewing screen. In this case, the joint 17 is fitted approximatelycentrally on the rear side 18 of the viewing screen 6, which side ispartially visible in the non-functional position, and is covered by theangled, first guide element 12.

The second guide element 13 is of U-shaped design with a wide base 19and short limbs 20, 21. The end sides of the latter are provided withfurther joints 22, 23 of which, in the non-functional positionillustrated, the lower joint 22 is fitted approximately centrally on theend surface 2 of the trim panel 1 whereas the upper joint 23 isconnected to the edge 24 of the viewing screen 6 which is the upper,horizontal one in the non-functional position illustrated.

The axes of rotation of the joints 15, 17, 22 and 23 run spaced apartfrom one another and parallel both on the trim-panel side and on theviewing-screen side.

By means of the arrangement in a recess 9, the guide elements 12, 13 andthe viewing screen 6, which are orientated approximately parallel to oneanother, end flush with the contour of the trim panel 1 on all sides inthe non-functional position.

During the transfer of the viewing screen 6 into the functional position(FIG. 2 d), the second guide element 19 is pivoted rearward about thejoint 22 exclusively in one direction, i.e. only in the clockwisedirection in the selected sideview. In the process, firstly the distancebetween the axis of rotation of the trim-panel-side joint 15 of thefirst guide element 12 and the axis of rotation of theviewing-screen-side joint 23 of the second guide element 13 and secondlythe distance between the axis of rotation of the trim-panel-side joint22 of the second guide element 13 and the axis of rotation of theviewing-screen-side joint 17 of the first guide element 12 increase.

The viewing screen 6 is rotated through somewhat more than 180° in theopposite direction, in which case the first guide element 12 first ofall pivots about the trim-panel-side joint 15 in the same direction asthe viewing screen 6 (FIGS. 2 b, 2 c), but then changes its direction ofrotation and again pivots in the same direction as the second guideelement. A manual or mechanical drive of the joint mechanism thereforepreferably acts on the joint 22, since only the latter retains the samedirection of rotation over the entire sequence of movement. In addition,there is sufficient space in the trim panel 1 for the accommodation ofthe drive elements, in contrast to the surroundings of the joints 17 and24 which likewise rotate unidirectionally and are fitted on the viewingscreen 6.

The viewing screen 6 is supported in the functional position on a stop25 of the first guide element 12, with whose limb 16 it forms an acuteangle in the joint 17, and does not need to be fixed separately. In thiscase, the limb 16 of the first guide element and the base 19 of the baseelement are orientated approximately at right angles to each other, theaxes of rotation of the joints 15, 17 and 23 running approximately alonga straight line G. The direction of rotation of the first guide element12, which changes over the course of the viewing screen 6 being pivotedout, is essential for the automatic securing of the position of theviewing screen 6 in the functional position, since, in this position, astable equilibrium is produced again in the four-bar mechanism by theviewing screen 6 resting on the stop 25.

A final variant of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.Departing from the design shown in FIG. 2, the viewing-screen-sidejoints 17 and 23 of the two guide elements 12 and 13 are arranged ineach case on the horizontal edges 26, 27 of the viewing screen 6. Thisenables the viewing screen 6 to be essentially concealed in thenon-functional position by means of the outer guide element 12 which isof sheet-like design and is coupled to the upper edge 26 of the viewingscreen and approximately centrally to the end surface 2 of the trimpanel 1. By contrast, the guide element 13 which is coupled in the upperregion of the trim panel 1 and on the lower edge of the viewing screen 6is situated in this case in the recess 9 between the pivoted-in viewingscreen 6 and the trim panel 1. Since neither the guide element 12 northe guide element 13 change the direction of rotation during the courseof the viewing screen being pivoted out into the functional position,fixing devices have to be provided in one or more of the joints 15, 17,2, 23. As an alternative, it is, of course, possible for a fixing devicealso to act from the outside on the moveable parts of the jointmechanism or to act in some other manner between them.

The trim panel according to the invention can be designed, inparticular, as a dashboard or central console of a motor vehicle.However, other embodiments are also conceivable, for example the rearbackrest or head-restraint trim of vehicle seats.

Reference Numbers

-   1 Trim panel-   2 End side-   3 Guide element-   4 Edge-   5 Joint-   6 Viewing screen-   7 Edge-   8 Joint-   9 Recess-   10 Display-   11 Side surface-   12, 13 Guide element-   14 Limb-   15 Joint-   16 Limb-   17 Joint-   18 Rear side-   19 Base-   20, 21 Limb-   22, 23 Joint-   24 Edge-   25 Stop-   26, 27 Edge-   28 Flap-   29 DVD player

1-13. (Cancelled)
 14. A trim panel of a vehicle interior comprising: aviewing screen configured to rotate between a non-functional positioninto a functional position; at least one guide element rotatably coupledto the trim panel and rotatably coupled to the viewing screen at thefirst pivot axis; wherein the axes of rotation of the viewing screen andthe at least one guide element are substantially parallel to each other.15. The trim panel of claim 14 wherein the at least one guide element inthe functional position of the viewing screen can be brought into thesame position resting on the trim panel as in the non-functionalposition of the viewing screen.
 16. The trim element of claim 14 whereinthe at least one guide element in the functional position of the viewingscreen can be fixed in a position deviating from the non-functionalposition.
 17. The trim panel of claim 14 wherein the at least one guideelement comprises a first guide element and a second guide element, thefirst guide element coupled to the trim panel at a first axis and to theviewing screen at a second axis, the second guide element coupled to thetrim panel at a third axis and to the viewing screen at a fourth axis,the first axis, second axis, third axis, and the fourth axis aresubstantially parallel to each other.
 18. The trim panel of claim 17wherein the distance between the axis of rotation of the first axis andthe fourth axis and between the third axis of rotation and the secondaxis are enlarged when the viewing screen is swung up from thenon-functional position into the functional position.
 19. The trim panelof claim 1 wherein the at least one guide element has a rotationalmovement directed exclusively in one direction of rotation about itstrim-panel-side joint when the viewing screen is shifted from thenon-functional position to the functional position.
 20. The trim panelof claim 19 further comprising a rotary drive configured to act on onejoint of the guide element when the viewing screen is shifted from thenon-functional position into the functional position and executes arotational movement directed in one direction of rotation.
 21. The trimpanel of claim 20 wherein the rotary drive is manual or mechanical andis located on the trim-panel-side joint of the guide element.
 22. Thetrim panel of one of claims 19 wherein the at least one one guideelement changes its direction of rotation about its trim-panel-sidejoint when the viewing screen is shifted from the non-functionalposition into the functional position.
 23. The trim element of one ofclaims 22 wherein the at least one one guide element is arranged, in thenon-functional position of the viewing screen, between the latter andthe trim panel.
 24. The trim panel of claim 1 wherein the at least oneone guide element at least partially engages around the viewing screenfrom the outside in the non-functional position.
 25. The trim panel ofclaim 24 wherein the at least one guide element which engages around theviewing screen on the outside is of sheet-like design and substantiallyconceals the rear side of said viewing screen in the non-functionalposition.
 26. The trim panel of claim 1 wherein the viewing screen isarranged in a recess of the trim panel in the non-functional position.27. The trim panel of claim 1 wherein the first axis and the second axisare substantially horizontally.
 28. A trim panel of a vehicle interiorcomprising: a viewing screen configured to rotate between a firstposition and a second position about a first pivot axis; at least oneguide element coupled to the trim panel at a second pivot axis andcoupled to the viewing screen at the first pivot axis, wherein the firstpivot axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the second pivotaxis; wherein the at least one guide element in the second position ofthe viewing screen can be brought into the same position relative to thetrim panel as in the first position of the viewing screen.
 29. The trimpanel of claim 28 wherein the first position is a non-functionalposition and the second position is a functional position.
 30. A trimpanel of a vehicle interior comprising: a viewing screen configured torotate between a first position and a second position; a first guideelement pivotally coupled to the trim panel and coupled to the viewingscreen; a second guide element pivotally coupled to the trim panel andcoupled to the viewing screen; wherein the pivot axes of between thefirst guide element, the second guide element, and the viewing screenare substantially parallel to the second pivot axis.
 31. The trimelement of claim 29 wherein the distance between the respectivecorresponding axes of rotation for the first and second guide elementare enlarged when the viewing screen is swung up from the non-functionalposition into the functional position.
 32. The trim panel of claim 30wherein the first guide element coupled to the trim panel at a firstaxis and to the viewing screen at a second axis, the second guideelement coupled to the trim panel at a third axis and to the viewingscreen at a fourth axis, the first axis, second axis, third axis, andthe fourth axis are substantially parallel to each other.
 33. The trimpanel of claim 32 wherein the distance between the axis of rotation ofthe first axis and the fourth axis and between the third axis ofrotation and the second axis are enlarged when the viewing screen isswung up from the non-functional position into the functional position.